Show ContentsSpurling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Spurling family

The surname Spurling was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say long before the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Spurling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spurling research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1809 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Spurling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spurling Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sparling, Sparlin, Sperling, Spurling, Spearling and others.

Early Notables of the Spurling family

More information is included under the topic Early Spurling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spurling Ranking

In the United States, the name Spurling is the 9,899th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Spurling family to Ireland

Some of the Spurling family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Spurling migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spurling Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Spurling, who landed in Virginia in 1623 2
Spurling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Spurling, who settled in Virginia in 1726
  • Elizabeth Spurling, who landed in America in 1749

Australia Spurling migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Spurling Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Spurling, (b. 1820), aged 20, English farm labourer who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 15 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1844 3
  • James Spurling, aged 43, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" 4
  • Robert Spurling, aged 14, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 5
  • William Spurling, aged 43, a general labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 5

New Zealand Spurling migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Spurling Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • P. Spurling, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harkaway" in 1858 6
  • Miss Anna Spurling, (b. 1838), aged 30, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Spurling (post 1700) +

  • Roy Glenwood Spurling (b. 1894), American neurosurgeon, best known for describing Spurling's test
  • Christopher Michael Spurling (b. 1977), American Major League Baseball former relief pitcher who played from 2003 to 2007
  • Andrew Barclay Spurling (1833-1906), American Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army during the American Civil War
  • Jennifer Spurling, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 8
  • Scott Spurling (b. 1993), English professional rugby union player
  • Richard Green Spurling (1857-1935), founder of the Church of God
  • Hilary Spurling CBE, FRSL (b. 1940), British writer, known for her work as a journalist and biographer, married to playwright John Spurling
  • The Rev. Frederick William Spurling (1844-1914), British Anglican priest, university academic and theological writer
  • Bob Spurling (b. 1943), former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray (1963 and 1965)
  • William "Bill" Spurling (1907-1972), Australian rules footballer for Footscray (1928-1935)
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Royal Oak
  • William G. Spurling, British Stoker Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 9


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Lysander.htm
  5. South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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